Petrol costs more here than in capital

Motorists in Lancashire pay more for their fuel than those in London, according to a new report.

While pump prices across the country have dropped to their lowest level for more than two-and-a-half years, the North West is still costlier than the capital.

The AA Fuel Price Report for November shows that, compared to a month ago, the average pump price of petrol in the UK fell from 132.16p a litre to 130.44p. It had reached a high of 138.38p in September. The cost of diesel also continued to fall, down from an average of 139.12p a litre in mid October to 137.78p now. It also hit a late summer high in the second week of September, reaching 142.88p.

In the North West the average price of petrol in November was 130.5, down 1.8p a litre from the previous month. Diesel averaged 137.6, down 1.3p. In London petrol averaged 130.2p and diesel 137.2p.

Supermarkets continue to be the cheapest outlets, with Asda leading the way, says the AA. Asda’s price this month has been 127.31p, Sainsbury 128.37 and Morrisons 129.29. Significantly the cheapest price for supermarket petrol in built-up areas ranges from 126.7p in towns with strong competition to 131.9p in those without, usually small market and coastal towns. But the motoring organisation managed to find some non-supermarket fuel stations in London were able to sell petrol at 124.9p a litre.

AA president Edmund King said: “On average, 28% of our members buy a set amount of fuel each time they go to a petrol station. This rises to 40% for younger drivers and 44% for lower-income ones.

“In September a £30 spend bought them 21.7 litres and now it buys them 23 – a boost equal to a free 10-mile round trip to work. A family with two petrol cars was spending the equivalent of £252.54 a month on fuel in September, now it’s £238.05.”